National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the postponement of its ward and Local Government Area congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States, which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The postponement, according to the letter, jointly signed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was due to operational challenges.

It read in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter on the above subject matter with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1F/24-069 dated Friday, April 19, 2024, in which we informed the Commission of our timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of our Year 2024 planned congresses in 24 (twenty-four) state chapters of our party.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

“We will continue to update the Commission on this issue. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge the receipt of this letter. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the postponement of its ward and Local Government Area congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States, which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The postponement, according to the letter, jointly signed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was due to operational challenges.

It read in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter on the above subject matter with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1F/24-069 dated Friday, April 19, 2024, in which we informed the Commission of our timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of our Year 2024 planned congresses in 24 (twenty-four) state chapters of our party.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

“We will continue to update the Commission on this issue. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge the receipt of this letter. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new twist as Callistus Okafor, a former Deputy National Chairman, has laid claim to the National Chairmanship position.

Mr Okafor has announced his decision to “take over” the party, citing a 2018 consent judgment from the Federal High Court.

The politician made the declaration at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

Okafor explained that the court ruling, delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, resolved a leadership dispute between the late National Chairman, Abdulkadir Salam, and a rival faction led by Salisu Mohammed. The judgment declared that separate national conventions held by both parties were “inclusive.”

Okafor argued that this ruling was ignored, allowing Julius Abure to inherit and build on a faulty structure to become National Chairman.

As a member of the 2018 National Working Committee, Okafor claimed that he and others are beneficiaries of the court judgment.

Okafor announced plans to hold an all-inclusive convention within six months to reconcile aggrieved members and unite the party.

He said, “The owner of the house has taken the house. When I mean owner, I am not contesting Labour Party leadership with NLC, no.”

“I’m talking about the process. The midwifing of this process (fresh convention).

“The 2014 convention is the right avenue to midwife it. For that reason Callistus Okafor is now the acting chairman of Labour Party.

“Sequel to the above development, members of the 2014 National Working Committee who are beneficiaries of the consent judgment have agreed to midwife an all-inclusive and expansive convention in compliance with the Consent Judgment delivered by Hon Justice G.O. Kolawole, and further agree to within six months embark on a purposeful reconciliation of all aggrieved members and groups to achieve a united, focused Labour Party that will redefine political leadership in Nigeria’s quest for a better nation.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Monday, upheld the emergence of Asue Igbodalo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The appellate court, in a lead judgment by Justice A. M. Lamido, dismissed the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, filed by the reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The appellate court, which described Shaibu’s appeal as incompetent, awarded N1m against him in favour of Ighodalo.

The appellate court affirmed the May 27 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which earlier dismissed Shaibu’s suit challenging Ighodalo’s candidacy.

Justice Omotosho had held that Shaibu’s suit was premature, having not exhausted the PDP internal dispute resolution mechanisms before heading to court.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court’s verdict.

“The conduct of an election as well as results are presumed regular until the contrary is proved and there was no evidence from the affidavit of the appellant to show votes were allocated to the 4th respondent. The suit is premature and the position of the lower court is unassailable.

“The appellant failed to prove his case as held by the trial court. The issue is resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.

“Judgment of trial court is hereby affirmed. A cost of 1,000,000 is awarded against the appellant and in favour of the respective respondents,” the appellate court held.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed the second suit filed by Shaibu’s seeking Ighodalo’s candidacy.